Will the players then do more to help their Clubs, than just turn up on Saturday Nights to play?
That is probably a generalisation, but the majority of Club Volunteers who help run the ABA Games, at most Clubs anyway, are also Committee Members and/or parents of current players.
22 Rounds was hopeless last year & in fact crowd numbers have been going down over the last 3-4 seasons, so extending the season by 2 more home games did nothing for crowds. In fact the number of Crows/Port games being played Saturday Nights seems to be having more of an impact on numbers and therefore fundraising.
I know that only one club confirms that their ABL Teams don't cost that Club money, but the rest all say it does.
So, if the players want the league to continue, they need to contribute by attracting sponsors, by being visible to their Club Juniors to attract more spectators, so Clubs will have more money to give to their players.
Otherwise, I think that within 2 years, the Central ABL will be fully amateur, with players paying to play & most people retiring from the sport at 20 or 21, unless they truly do love the competition.
This may even impact on the prospective number of Juniors coming in to the sport.
So don't just put the blame on the Clubs & the Presidents, it's up to them plus the Players to keep the Compettition viable & for the players do earn some payment.
If players were just paid what their part of the program brings in, I think you find the Salary payments would be less than half of what was actually allowed under Salary Cap in 2006.
(eg assuming each club did spend its $25,000 on players & say another $8,000 on Coaches, that is $33,000 for the season & with 11 home games, each home game has to generate $3,000 in profit just to cover those costs. That is a lot of sausage sizzles & cups of coffee!)